Below is RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up from Wednesday. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

CONGRESS

The Federal government remains in a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations into fiscal year 2026.

ADMINISTRATION

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced that the Trump Administration has initiated reduction-in-force plans across agencies.

The Senate voted 51–47 to approve an en bloc amendment confirming more than 100 Trump Administration nominees. Among those confirmed were Kirsten Baesler as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education; Kimberly Richey as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Mary Christina Riley as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs; and David Barker as Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) concluded its first round of negotiated rulemaking sessions under the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee but did not reach consensus on the proposed regulatory language. The next round of sessions is scheduled for November 3–7, 2025.

ED resumed granting loan forgiveness for qualified borrowers on certain Income-Based Repayment plans after pausing it since July.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

Republican lawmakers ask McMahon to restore funding for Hispanic-serving colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

Most of Harvard’s Research Funding Has Been Restored [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump Welcomes ‘Any Institution’ to Sign Onto Compact Outlining His Priorities [The Chronicle]

Under Anti-DEI Pressure, Ohio State Limits Conference Funds [Inside Higher Ed]

Many rural schools rely on international teachers. Trump’s visa changes threaten that [NPR]

Nearly 500 Education Dept. Employees Fired [Inside Higher Ed]

MIT rejects Trump compact [The Hill]

Already Battered by Cuts, Researchers and Colleges Face Federal Shutdown Impacts [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump praised community colleges. Then came the cuts. [The Washington Post]

The White House Sent Its Compact to 9 Universities. Here’s What Their Administrators and Faculty Are Saying. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Higher Ed Will Likely Be a Key Topic for SCOTUS. Which Cases Will Make the Cut? [Inside Higher Ed]

Breaking Down the Trump Administration’s Higher Ed Compact [The Dispatch]

Virginia lawmakers threaten state funding consequences if UVA signs Trump compact [Higher Ed Dive]

House Dem Leader Demands Hearing Over Political Out-of-Office Emails [Inside Higher Ed]

Richey confirmed to lead Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights [K-12 Dive]

What happens to borrowers if government sells student loan debt? [The Hill]

Harvard Seeks Assurances as Talks Restart in Washington [The New York Times]

Texas Systems Review Course Descriptions, Syllabi, as Critics Scrutinize Them [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Speaker of the House
Press Release: ICYMI: The New York Times Calls Out Democrats’ False Shutdown Narrative

Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 14 of the Democrat Shutdown: The Democrats’ $1.5 Trillion Bill to Reopen the Government is an Unserious Proposal Made by Unserious People

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on CNN: “The American People Clearly Know Who Shut the Government Down”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Republicans Have Shut the Government Down Because of Their Unwillingness to Provide Healthcare to Everyday Americans”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 14

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on the Trump Shutdown and the Urgent Need for Republicans to Address Looming Healthcare Crisis

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: House Democrats Introduce New Bill to Protect WIC Benefits from Partisan Gridlock

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: **New Date and Legislation** Chairman Cruz Announces Executive Session for October 21st

October 21: Full Committee Executive Session to consider S.1070, to establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities, among other bills and nominations.
10:00 a.m. EST Russell 253 and via webcast.

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 13 of the Democrat Shutdown: Bipartisan Majorities in Both Chambers of Congress Want to End the Shutdown. Only Chuck Schumer Stands in the Way.

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Dear Colleague on the Republican Shutdown of Government

Press Release: Leader Jeffries On Fox: “This Is Not A Partisan Fight For Us”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 10

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Schumer, Merkley, Murray, Peters Call On Trump Budget Chief Russ Vought To Resign

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Latest Round of Mass Layoffs at ED and HHS

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Collins’ Statement on OMB’s Attempt to Permanently Lay Off Federal Workers

Press Release: Senator Murray Statement on Trump and Vought Saying They’ve Started More Mass Firings

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Statement on Russ Vought’s Attempted Mass Firing of Federal Employees

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Schumer, Merkley, Murray, Peters Call On Trump Budget Chief Russ Vought To Resign

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on Trump–Vought Illegal Firings Amid Shutdown

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Sen. Cantwell Warns Big Ten Presidents of Dangers in Selling University Assets to Private Equity Firms

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on AI’s Impact on American Families, Workers

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “AI’s Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families”

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Executive Session on the Nominations of Crystal Carey, of New Jersey, to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board for term of four years, vice Jennifer Ann Abruzzo; Scott Mayer, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029, vice Lauren McGarity McFerran, term expired; James Murphy, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2027, vice John F. Ring, term expired; Rosario Palmieri, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor, vice Rajesh D. Nayak, resigned; Anthony D’Esposito, of New York, to be Inspector General, Department of Labor, vice Larry D. Turner
430 Dirksen and via Webcast
9:45 a.m. ET

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: While Schumer Celebrates, Americans Suffer: The Cost of the Democrat Shutdown Grows by the Day

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day Eight of Democrat Government Shutdown: The House Passed the Clean CR to Pay Troops, TSA Agents, and Air Traffic Controllers. Democrats Voted for Them to Go Unpaid.

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise: The American People are Sick of Democrats’ Shutdown Charade

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on MSNBC: “We Need to Address the Republican Healthcare Crisis”

Press Release: Leader Jefferies: “Millions of Americans Are About to See Their Healthcare Costs Double, Triple, or Quadruple”

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Slamming Republicans’ Refusal To Protect Americans’ Access To Healthcare And End The Republican Shutdown

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on Reforming Labor Law, Strengthening Workers’ Rights

Press Release: ICYMI: Chair Cassidy Leads Senate Republicans in Delivering President Trump’s Agenda, Confirming Trump Nominees

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Labor Law Reform Part 1: Diagnosing the Issues, Exploring Current Proposals.”

October 9: Full Committee Hearing on “AI’s Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families”
Witnesses: Dr. Russ B. Altman, Kenneth Fong Professor and Professor of Bioengineering, of Genetics, of Medicine, of Biomedical Data Science, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI and Professor, by courtesy, of Computer Science, Standford, CA; Mr. John Bailey, Nonresident, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; Ms. Harriet Pearson, Managing Principal, Axia Advisory, Shepherdstown, WV; Dr. Juliet Schor, Professor, Boston College, Boston, MA; and Mr. Carlos Aramyao, President, UNITE HERE Local 26, Boston, MA.
430 Dirksen and via Webcast
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Chairman Cole on Day Eight: Negotiations on Appropriations are Stalled until Democrats Face Reality and Reopen the Government

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: What They Are Saying: Stakeholder Comments on Government Shutdown

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans.”

Press Release: Postponed: Executive Session 15

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Neal Demands On-Time Filing Season

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Press Release: Ernst Advances Trump SBA IG Nominee Out of Committee

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Business Meeting on the nomination of William Kirk, of Maryland, to be Inspector General of the Small Business Administration.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

No relevant news.

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5371 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 10/14/2025 Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.

H.R.5753 — To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase reimbursement rates of school meals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: McGovern, James P. [Rep.-D-MA-2] (Introduced 10/14/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/14/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: McGovern Introduces New Bill to Improve School Meals and Expand Nutritional Options for Kids

H.Res.807 — Of inquiry requesting the President to transmit certain information to the House of Representatives referring to the firings, dismissal, reduction in force, or withholding of pay for the period of the lapse in appropriations of furloughed employees of the United States Government.
Sponsor: Mfume, Kweisi [Rep.-D-MD-7] (Introduced 10/14/2025) Cosponsors: (20)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 10/14/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

S.3005 — A bill to require Executive agencies to submit reports to Congress and to the Office of Personnel Management regarding employees who are furloughed during any period during which there is a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Ernst, Joni [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 10/14/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 10/14/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

H.R.5371 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 10/09/2025 Fourth cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

H.R.5371 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 10/08/2025 Upon reconsideration, the second cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 – 45.

H.R.5720 — To provide reimbursement to certain Federal employees for childcare expenses during the lapse in appropriations beginning on or about October 1, 2025.
Sponsor: Omar, Ilhan [Rep.-D-MN-5] (Introduced 10/08/2025) Cosponsors: (27)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Press Release: Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces the Federal Worker Childcare Protection Act

H.Res.792 — Declaring a need for increased investments in youth mental health, recognizing May 31, 2026, as “Youth Mental Health Day”, recognizing September 9, 2026, annually as “Youth Suicide Prevention Day”, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Ansari, Yassamin [Rep.-D-AZ-3] (Introduced 10/08/2025) Cosponsors: (11)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.Res.793 — Expressing support for the designation of October 2025 as “National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month”.
Sponsor: Brownley, Julia [Rep.-D-CA-26] (Introduced 10/08/2025) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.2882 — 119th Congress (2025-2026)
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026
Sponsor: Murray, Patty [Sen.-D-WA] (Introduced 09/18/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Latest Action: Senate – 10/08/2025 Upon reconsideration, the second cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 – 52.

S.2984 — A bill to reform the labor laws of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Scott, Tim [Sen.-R-SC] (Introduced 10/08/2025) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/08/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Press Release: Senator Tim Scott Reintroduces the Employee Rights Act to Empower American Workers

S.2987 — A bill to establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to college for all, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR] (Introduced 10/08/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/08/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Cotton Introduces Bill to Overhaul Workforce Education

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

We expect submission deadlines to remain the same, notwithstanding the government shutdown.

Today’s Federal Register.